Smith's Bible Dictionary.pdf - Online Christian Library

Smith's Bible Dictionary
“Daughters of music,” i.e. singing birds, (Ecclesiastes 12:4) refers to the power of making and
enjoying music.
David
(well-beloved), the son of Jesse. His life may be divided into three portions:
•His youth before his introduction to the court of Saul;
•His relations with Saul;
•His reign.
•The early life of David contains in many important respects the antecedents of his future career.
It appears that David was the youngest son, probably the youngest child, of a family of ten, and
was born in Bethlehem B.C. 1085. The first time that David appears in history at once admits us
to the whole family circle. The annual sacrificial feast is being held when Samuel appears, sent
by God to anoint one of Jesse’s sons as they pass before him, (1 Samuel 16:6-10) Samuel sends
for the youngest, David, who was “keeping the sheep,” and anoints him. (1 Samuel 16:11-13) As
David stood before Samuel we are enabled to fix his appearance at once in our minds. He was of
short stature, with red or auburn hair, such as is not unfrequently seen in his countrymen of the
East at the present day. In later life he wore a beard. His bright eyes are specially mentioned, (1
Samuel 16:12) and generally he was remarkable for the grace of his figure and countenance (“fair
of eyes,” “comely,” “goodly,”) (1 Samuel 16:12,18; 17:42) well made and of immense strength
and agility. His swiftness and activity made him like a wild gazelle, his feet like hart’s feet, and
his arms strong enough to break a bow of steel. (Psalms 18:33,34) After the anointing David
resumes his accustomed duties, and the next we know of him he is summoned to the court to chase
away the king’s madness by music, (1 Samuel 16:14-19) and in the successful effort of David’s
harp we have the first glimpse into that genius for music and poetry which was afterwards
consecrated in the Psalms. After this he returned to the old shepherd life again. One incident alone
of his solitary shepherd life has come down to us—his conflict with the lion and the bear in defence
of his father’s flocks. (1 Samuel 17:34,35) It was some years after this that David suddenly appears
before his brothers in the camp of the army, and hears the defiant challenge of the Philistine giant
Goliath. With his shepherd’s sling and five small pebbles he goes forth and defeats the giant. (1
Samuel 17:40-51)
•Relations with Saul.—We now enter on a new aspect of David’s life. The victory over Goliath
had been a turning point of his career. Saul inquired his parentage, and took him finally to his
court. Jonathan was inspired by the romantic friendship which bound the two youths together to
the end of their lives. Unfortunately David’s fame proved the foundation of that unhappy jealousy
of Saul towards him which, mingling with the king’s constitutional malady, poisoned his whole
future relations to David. His position in Saul’s court seems to have been first armor-bearer, (1
Samuel 16:21; 18:2) then captain over a thousand, (1 Samuel 18:13) and finally, on his marriage
with Michal, the king’s second daughter, he was raised to the high office of captain of the king’s
body-guard, second only, if not equal, to Abner, the captain of the host, and Jonathan, the heir
apparent. David was not chiefly known for his successful exploits against the Philistines, by one
of which he won his wife, and rove back the Philistine power with a blow from which it only
rallied at the disastrous close of Saul’s reign. He also still performed from time to time the office
of minstrel; but the successive attempts of Saul upon his life convinced him that he was in constant
danger. He had two faithful allies, however, in the court—the son of Saul, his friend Jonathan,
and the daughter of Saul, his wife Michal. Warned by the one and assisted by the other, he escaped
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William Smith